Great Resources: The Second Installation

Hello readers.  First, let me apologize for it being so long in between posts.  I have been extremely busy with teaching, coaching, conducting our offseason mental conditioning program, and doing lots of forced writing for a couple of classes I was taking.  I hope to dive back into the blog over the next couple of weeks.

A while back I wrote about the importance of being a lifelong learner and gave you two of the books that have had a great impact on my views in sport psychology.  With this being a time where all players and coaches have at least a couple of weeks off, I thought it would be the perfect time to give you a couple of last minute stocking stuffers to ask Santa for.  If you label yourself as "not a reader," I'd like to challenge yourself to not see that label as permanent.  I was "not a reader" for quite a while but have changed my perspective completely by finding what I really like to read...and reading.

Here are three more books I would like to recommend as you challenge yourself to grow either as a player or as a coach.  The list is by no means exhaustive in nature, but I have chosen to write about books that I have a strong connection to for different reasons:

1. Baseball's 6th Tool:  The Inner Game by Dr. Jack Curtis:  Dr. Curtis is one of the trailblazers in the field of sport psychology within baseball.  He has been working with various teams and players for about 25 years and shares a great deal of his knowledge in this book.  Dr. Curtis is big on explaining how the brain works as he shares some tips and activities that will help you as a player.  Some of the topics addressed include mindset, being positive, goal-setting, and multiple types of imagery.  As I have explained in other posts, I believe very strongly about the importance of answering the question "Why?"  Dr. Curtis does this really well in a way that is easy to read without sacrificing scientific accuracy.  Personally, I am a huge fan of his work with imagery.  Reading his book got me very interested in the topic in general and instilled many of my beliefs on the use of imagery.  Dr. Curtis has also given me great advice, and I actually had the privilege of watching a few innings of a game in Charlotte a little over a year ago with him.  It was awesome!
Baseball's 6th Tool

2. The Complete Mental Game of Baseball:  Taking Charge of the Process, On and Off the Field by Dr. Charlie Maher:  A couple of months ago someone I respect a lot talked with me about Dr. Maher and his thoughts.  Dr. Maher is the Director of Psychological Services for the Cleveland Indians.  I had seen his book in my Amazon browsing a while back but had decided not to pull the trigger on it.  I am very glad I had the conversation I did because it pushed me to give the book a shot.  I really liked it.  The book outlines some of Dr. Maher's core beliefs and the overall mental program he uses with the Cleveland Indians organization.  What I really like about the book is the interactive nature of it and the reflection it makes the reader do.  Anyone who knows me well is aware that I am extremely introspective (probably to a fault), but I really appreciate the guided help of players in understanding who they are.  For me, true understanding of one's self is probably the most valuable psychological tool a player or person can have.
The Complete Mental Game of Baseball

3. Freedom Flight:  The Origins of Mental Power by Lenny Bassham:  This is my outside the box pick for the blog.  The book has special value for me because a student recommended it to me.  The student gave me the book, said he read it in one night, and thought I would like it (he also stressed that he hardly ever reads at all).  Needless to say, I felt like I better read this book as soon as I can get to it.  The book itself reads very similarly to a Jon Gordon book.  There are lessons built into a story.  The story is about a plane ride to the Military World Championships to Egypt and a conversation between one of the shooters and a former prisoner of war in Vietnam.  The book teaches different lessons with each chapter and gives a great summary of the lessons at the end of the book in case you missed them.  It took me about an hour or so to read, and I would not say I am a fast reader at all.  The book works as a great perspective check, and the lessons are great for sport psychology.
Freedom Flight

Again, it's certainly been a while since I have written.  I have a couple of ideas for topics I want to discuss, but I am definitely open to any suggestions you may have.  The feedback I have gotten has really helped me out a lot and has hopefully made the blog more valuable for you.

Tweet/DM me @Coach_Ehrlich, or shoot me an email at ehrlichb1@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading!